Please, don’t drive high

Article originally written by Modo and modified with permission for Poparide.

Whether you’ve been waiting for this day to come, or dreading it, October 17th, 2018 marks the day the Government of Canada will officially legalize non-medical cannabis.

With that, provincial governments will be proposing additional cannabis-related laws to ensure safe implementation across all fronts, including regulations specific to operating a vehicle while under the influence.

While it’s not important we know your personal position on cannabis use, it’s imperative our members understand the laws and impacts of its use in relation to driving with Poparide.

Cannabis use in on a Poparide trip will not be tolerated

As stated in our Terms of service, being under the influence is not allowed on Poparide; whether you are a driver or passenger. Smells also tend to linger and some of our members may be allergic. If allegations of smoking cannabis are made during a trip, members will have their Poparide accounts immediately suspended. It may also result in serious consequences including having your license suspended, fines, criminal charges or even jail time.

Dangers of drug-impaired driving

Studies show that driver fatalities of Canadians who test positive for drugs (40%) now exceeds the numbers who test positive for alcohol (33%). The dangers of driving impaired are real and serious and can truly alter one’s ability to drive. The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction states that driving while impaired has the following effects on driving:

• affects motor skills;
• slows reaction time;
• impairs short term memory and concentration;
• causes drivers to vary speed and to wander; and
• reduces the ability to make decisions or handle unexpected events

We all have a role to play in keeping our roads safe. For cannabis users, the message from both the Government of Canada and Poparide is simple – don’t drive high. If you plan to partake – just like alcohol – please don’t use Poparide.

Member safety is our top priority. In the event you posted a trip on Poparide and find yourself under the influence, please don’t drive and get in touch with our support team, we’ll be happy to find a solution.

Safe driving from the team at Poparide.

This post was inspired by a great post by our partners Modo, who run a carsharing coop in Vancouver, BC. Get $50 of free carsharing credit by signing up to Modo here.